7mm Mag vs 300 Win Mag.....

[Andy L]

And just these two calibers, dont throw in the shorties or anything else. Although Im pretty sold on the 6.5x55 now. LOL

Ive been in a conversation with a guy about which was the best all around round between the two. What do yall think?

Ive never owned a 7Mag, but Ive had a 300 Win in Ruger M77 since I was 18yrs old and that was a long time ago. The old Rugers are good guns to begin with, IMO, and I couldnt think of a better cartridge for everything from deer to elk to moose to bear. If you could just have one. My buddy feels the same about his 7.

What yall think?

[skeet]

The 7 MM Mag is a really good round and all most of us will ever need in the lower 48. Still I would rather have the 300 Win mag as an all around rifle. It shoots bigger heavier bullets for the really large and dangerous critters. And the way elk hunting is becoming here in Wyoming if ya shoot the elk..ya might have to shoot the bear too. Them griz will take notice of a 300 Mag. The 338 or 375 might be better for ol griz or moose but not by much. Keep your Ruger. In fact I have a Rem 700 CDL in 300Win mag....got rid of the 7mm mag. And I surely don't need one of the "new and improved" super mags by anybody. My 2 cents worth. (Valued at four cents if considered by 2 people)

[Andy L]

Skeet, can you skin griz?

[skeet]

Fast as you can bring 'em...hehehe...Jeremiah Johnson

[gd357]

Doubtful you'll see any difference, although the heavier bullets in the 300 may be a bit more useful on anything that bites back (like skeet said). I've got a 7mag, and really doubt I'd ever trade it off on a 300WM. There are advantages to both, although the 300 requires a little more bullet weight for the same BC, which translates into more recoil. If you take dangerous stuff out of the equation, I'd opt for the big 7, but that's just me. It all boils down to personal preference.

gd

[Dom]

300 WinMag, bigger hole, no other reason, both are proven, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[M.T. Pockets]

I've been in quite a few elk camps and I quiz the outfitter and every guide I see about what rifle they like to see their hunters bring to camp.

By far the most common answer is a .300 magnum with premium bullets, 180 or better yet 200 grain. The benchmark .300 magnum is the .300 Win. but the .300 WSM is getting a foothold and so is the .300 RUM. The .300 Weatherby is a common rifle in elk camp and I've seen a couple .300 H&H.

Flying into a caribou camp in Alaska a few years ago the pilot asked us what rifles we had, we all had .300 mags of different names, he didn't say much except "good choice".

Back to the comparison between the two, the .300 Win. will do everything the 7 Mag will do, plus a little more. It would be my choice.

[buckhunter]

If I had a 7 Mag I'd keep it however since I don't I would opt for the 300. A little heavier bullet selection which would help if something wanted to take a chunk out of my hide.

As far a the 7 Mag is concerned its basically a loud 280 Rem .
Now the turds will fly.

[skeet]

Basically you are right but there are loads of people who like the caliber. I just got an as new Rem 700 Mountain rifle in 280. Can't wait to try it out. I've had 2 or 3 7 mags and never really cared for the round. Here it comes now!

[Freebore]

The 7mm Rem Magnum although a good round does not have the knock down power of a big 30 cal magnum. The 7mm shine nicely as a flat shoot cartridge when running a 140 grain at 3200 fps for antelope and deer. I've seen elk shot with 7 Rem mags and they required more than one shot, understandable shot placement is crucial and they would have died from the first shot but they just stood there ready to takeoff, I don't know how many of you have chased elk after being hit but they can go a looong way on those legs.

A big 30 cal just seem to 'kill' them and knock them down. As far as deer it's a bit much and a 300 win has ruined alot of venison when 150 grains are used.

That said I own three different 7mm rifles and nothing kills deer like that 7mm-08 w/145 grain Speer hot-core over WW760 powder. I 've killed over 59 whitetails w/one shot w/ this cartridge and it is my go to rifle every opener here in the Pa. woods.
I've taken lots of caribou w/ both of my bigger 7's Rem mag and my 7STW. I think the 7 STW has the speed to push those 160's to kill elk like the big 30's, I'll find out next year hopefully if the man shines upon me at 10,000 feet.

There is just something magical about a 30 caliber 200 grainer going 3000 fps.

I own both a 300 Win and a a bigger 30 built on the 8 mag case. That bigger 30 will push a 200 at 3200fps, speed does kill!

Just for reference take a 30-06 w/180's and the 7 Rem mag w/175's to the range w/factory ammo (out to 300) and compare, interesting.
Just my 2 cents

[bigbrother]

If it's too big for my 7, then I'd rather have something bigger than the 300. Let's be realistic, you can kill elephants with a 7x57...not that it's legal any more or that I would want to. But in reality if you're purposefully going after a big bear or the like, why would you pick a 300? I would pick something with some serious horsepower, not something that may trivialy be better in someone's opinion than a 7.

[PJgunner]

Originally posted by bigbrother
If it's too big for my 7, then I'd rather have something bigger than the 300. Let's be realistic, you can kill elephants with a 7x57...not that it's legal any more or that I would want to. But in reality if you're purposefully going after a big bear or the like, why would you pick a 300? I would pick something with some serious horsepower, not something that may trivialy be better in someone's opinion than a 7.

Well, maybe so, maybe not. As the question is between the 7MM Rem. Mag. and the 300 Win. Mag. let's pretty well keep it there. The ehaviest standard bullet for the 7Mag. is 175 gr. although someone makes a 195 gr. bullet for handloaders. For the .300 win Mag. the standard heavy bullet is 220 gr. and there is a 250 gr. bullet for handloaders, although I've never seen either of those ultra heavyweight for sale in any gun store I've been to.
If I were to have to face off with one of the great bears, I would definitely much rather have the .300 Mag. with the 220 gr Nosler Partition loaded to the hilt over the 7 mag. with the 175 gr. Nosler loaded to the hilt.
Now that was in keeping with the original question. Again, concerning one of the great bears, I would rather have my .35 Whelen with a good 250 gr. bullet loaded to the max for my rifle. If I could find some of the old 275 gr. Hornady blunt round nosed .35 caliber bullets they used to make, I'd damn well use those loaded to right at 2300 FPS or a bit more if my rifle would stand for it. Currently, I have 35 of those bullets that were discontinued back in 1966/7 thereabouts. I do wish Hornady would do a run of those for us .35 caliber people. Seems like there's quite a few people shooting the Whelen besides myself. Even if they made just a one time run so that those of us who want the bullet could get a supply would be a good thing. I know I'd buy a couple of hundred myself which should be a lifetime supply. If they improved it by making it an Interlock, that would be great.
To get back on thread though, if I had to choose between the 7mm Mag. and the .300 Mag., it's be the .300 all the way.
Paul B.

[rem 700]

The 7mag can do anything the 300 can...just load properly for the occasion. But I already have a 7 mag, so if I were to get another rifle and those two were my choices I'd get the 300

[Rapier]

Buy both, one is a very good choice, the other is an excellent choice. I own several versions of both and never regret owning either.

But if you must buy just one, buy the 300 Winch, it is the excellent choice. Question? Just consider the bullet selection, enough said.......
Ed

[Andy L]

Thanks for the replys.

Most were kinda what I thought. Both are fine. The 300 Win has some advantages as far as bullet selection and will do anything the 7 can do and more.

If I had a 7Mag, I wouldnt go sell it just to get a 300 Win or the other way around. However, if I were lookin for a lower 48 all around rifle and I was going to be hunting elk and other big game, I do believe I would opt for the 300.

Thanks again.